Switoh for secondary batteries



(No Model.) 3 Sheetis-Sheet 1.

, H. MULLER:

SWITCH FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.

Patented Mar. 13, 1894. $1 7.1.

#WWMWWW (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. MULLER. SWITCH FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES;

No. 516,379. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. MULLER.

SWITCH FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES. No. 516,379. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

I c: i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIERMANN MULLER, OF NUREMBERG, GERMANY.

SWITCH FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,379, dated March13, 1894.

Application filed December 2'7, 1892. Serial No. 456,399. (No model.)Patented in Germany May 17, 1890, No. 59,323, and July 23, 1891, No.62,229, and in England February 4, 1891. No. 2,040, and December 7,1891,11'0. 21,369.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN hlllLLER, a citizen of the Republic ofSwitzerland, residing in Nuremberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria and Empireof Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Switchesfor Secondary Batteries, (for which Letters Patent were granted to me inGermany, No. 59,323, dated May 17, 1890, and No. 62,229, dated July 23,1891, and in Great Britain, No. 2,040, dated February 1, 1891, and No.21,369, dated December 7, 1891,) of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in switches for secondarybatteries and relates in its general features to the followingimprovementsz-first. to a switch for secondary batteries which servesfor the purpose of switching one cell after the other into the circuitwithout danger of short-circuiting it; secondly, of a device whichserves for the purpose of preventing sparking on the fixedcontact-pieces of the switch by transferring the generation of sparks toa special contact making and breaking device, the contacts of which canbe conveniently and cheaply repaired; thirdly, an. apparatus whichserves to control the tension or state of charge in the cells in orderto switch out the cells when they are charged to their maximum-tension.

For the purpose herein set forth, my invention consists of certainimprovements in the construction of switches for secondary bat teries,which will be fully described hereinafter and the new features of whichwill finally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of myimproved switch for secondary batteries, showing also the device forcontrolling the tension or state of charge of the cells. Fig. 2 is aplan of a modified construction of my improved switch for secondarybatteries,showing the movable contact-pieces arranged to turn on apivot, so as to move through an arc of a circle. Fig. 3 is also a planof my improved switch, this figure being a modified construction ofFig. 1. Figs. 4. and 5 are diagrams for illustrating the means by whichsparks are prevented on the guideways of the switch. Figs. 6 and 6, 7and '7, 8 and S, 9 and 9, 10 and 10, 11 and 11 and 2 and 12 are diagramswhich show the different positions of the contact-pieces in theirpassage over the guide-ways and the relative position of thecontact-pieces by which the current is passed from the cells over saidguide-ways and contact-pieces and Fig. 13 is a plan-view of my improvedswitch, showing the contact-pieces by which the current is con ductedfrom the cells over the fixed guideways and movable contact-pieces tothe linewires, without the generation of sparks.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings (Fig. 1) a, 5,, &c., represent a number ofsecondary battery-cells which are connected to the contacts (2 c c and cc c Between 0 c 0 there are metallic pieces a, a, a, which form togetherthe guide G, for the sliding contact-piece 1),. In the same way a a aform together with the contacts c c c the guide way G for the slidingcontactpiece 17,. The two sliding pieces I), Z7, are fastened to the nutT and are insulated from each other. The nut T is moved up and down bythe screw-spindle f which can be turned by.means of the handle 71.Parallel with the guide ways G and G there are arranged the sliding rodsS, and S,, which are always in contact with the guide pieces I), and b,respectively. Between the two sliding rods S and S there is a resistanceWV which serves the purpose of preventing short circuiting of a cell,when the sliding contacts b, and b, are moved and also diminishing(halving) the gradations of the tension when the screw-nut T is moved.This resistance can be regulated so that these gradations of the tensionare not more than one volt. By using separate guide ways G G for eachsliding contact b, 11 according to the foregoing improvement theintermediate pieces a, a, a and a a a &c., can be made of metal and asshown in the diagram Fig. 1 all in one piece.

The direction of the current is as follows. As shown in the drawings thecurrent passes from cell 2,, to the contact 0 then through the slidingcontact Z), to the guide rod S, and then through the resistance a to theguide rod S and through the ammeter to thelamps. In the position a: g}the current comes from IOC the same cell 2 to the contact piece a andfrom the latter directly to the lamps. In

moving the screw nut T from one position to the next one, there is oneposition as shown by the line no in which the cell will send a currentthrough the resistance to.

Instead of applying two guide ways G G2 in connection with two slidingcontacts b hi there can also be arranged three or more guide ways inconnection with three or more sliding contacts. In this case the abovementioned gradations of the tension can be diminished to one third ofthe voltage of one cell.

The construction of. thisappa-ratus canbe arranged as shown by Figs. 2and 3. In Fig. 2 the two guide, ways are circular instead ofistraight.In thiscase the sliding contacts 12 12 are fastened to the end of alever, which turns on apivot formingv the center of the circular way. InFig. 3 theguiderods G G areseparated from the guideways S and S ndthe ne d a e pie s- 1 2 13 nde af are of single metal pieces. Allthesearrangements. arecharacterized by eachsliding con ac hevin teeparet g id y- The device by which sparking is prevented ontheguide-ways of the switch and trans.- ferred to'a special contact-makingand break: ing deviceisshown inFigs 4 top13, in.which Figs. 4= a nd 5serve to illustratethefundametitalh i e wh e i s. 6 to i he thedifierent positionsof the contactrpieces. duringjtheperiod offswitchingone cell in and out-, for which two rotations of the spindle f eghe fltIn the,figuresz e 2 representthe cells at he eeq d y t e y a 1 2 3 he econtact-pieceswhich are elect-ricallyconnected with said cells. towaret-he resistances, whicharefinterposed between the intermeate pn eetie e 1 2 s n e l an k isthesliding contact that passes along the contactpieces. c and intermediate pieces 11, aswshowninFigs. 4 and 5. Theswitch a. is arranged either between the resistance wand theintermediatepiecei, asshown in Fig. 4,

or-between thepointsm and n as shown in E g! In both Figs. 4 and 5theslidingcontact k is shown when it leaves the intermediate piece 2',so as to break circuit of the cell closed b the resistance w. As thebreaking of the circuit would generate a spark at theintermediate piece.2', the switch a is opened immediately beforeth e contact piece 79leaves the intermediate piece t, while the switch a, shown in Fig. 5makes the short circuit between m and n so that in both cases thiscontact piece It leaves the contact-piece. 2' withounforrninga spark atthe moment of interrupting-contact with the same.

Inv Fig. 6 is represented the arrangement of a. switch for secondarybatteries with a sliding contact, composed of. two contact-pieces k kwhich are electrically connected with each other by the resistance w.The intermediate pieces i i i are made of non-conducting material. Theswitches a, b and oz b, are arranged in the circuit with theresistancewand correspond to the switch a, shown in Fig. 4. r Theoperation of the switches in switching in and out the difierent cells ofthe battery is efiected by the double switch, shown in Fig. 6 which. isa combination of the two switches a b and a 19 and is composed of twosingle levers s s,, that are connected with but insulated from eachother, and of four segments a b, a b which correspond ,to thecorrespondingly marked points of the switches a b andv (1 b, in Fig. 6.The double switch s s is moved simultaneouslywith the slide-piece ofthebattery-switch, so that by turning the former through an angle of onehundred and eightydegreesthedouhleswitch is shifted from the positionshowninFig. 6.

t he p i epres nte n alZI het is to ay, s r eeessery o eh n. an out onecell-of the secondary.v battery.

In F shee f he w teh h s lose nd the ch a1 1 pened- The hrre from thestorage battery passes therefore .f rom the current, from the contactpiecep tothe v mp r ther r n a v. ees,..w il h cell 2' is. sending acurrent through the re-- sistance'w. I t

' In'Fig, S the sliding contact is, k isshifted still more to the right,being-still in, contact with the pieces c and c The doubleswitch s 8 hasin the meantime been moved for; another one-eighth of; a rotation, sothatthe switch at b is opened, while the switch a 12 is closed, as shownin Figs. 8 and 89, consequently the cell 2 sends. no longerapurrentthrough the resistance 10,, so that the next shifting'of thesliding-contact 70 1s, to the posilion shown in Fig. 9 can take placewithout hy p k g t e n heeont et-pieee e n the sliding contact.k

In Fig. 10 both switchesab andoz b, are closed,so that the currentpasses from the cell 2 to the contact-piece c and to the place of use. I

In Fig. 11 the. sliding contact k k is-still inconnection with thecontact piecec asfin Fig. 10, but as the double switch has moved thr uho h -eh gh h of a tati h switch a b isopened, so that the currentpasses from the cell 2 over thecontact pieces 0 and k, and throughthe-resistancew. As no current passes over the. contact 5 there will beno sparkin-g when the. same leaves-the contact 0 a'udassumesthe positionshownin Fig. 12 in which the-sliding contact is, 7.2 as-,

sumes the same relative position toward the cell 2 which it has in Fig.0 to the cell 2. while the positions of the switches a b o; b and .9correspond to the positions of the switches in Figs. 6 and 6respectively. The contacts have consequently arrived at the point whichanswers to the switching out of the cell .2 \Vhen the sliding contactIt, is shifted further on, the switches resume the same positions in thesame or opposite succession, according to the direction in which thedouble switch is moved, consequently no generation of sparks will takeplace between the fixed contacts and the sliding contacts 7.3 70 but thesparks are generated only at the points of contact of the double switch3 s with the segments a b a, b,, which can be readily renewed.

It is obvious that different arrangements of the switches can be made,as shown, for instance, in dotted lines in Fig. 12,in which by thecombination of the switch Ct h with the switch a Z), a simple two-wayswitch is obtained.

Any suitable mechanism by which the motion of the sliding contacts k 7.:is simultaneously transferred to a switching device can be used, so thatthe generation of sparks at the sliding contacts of the switches isprevented and transferred to removable and interchangeable contacts.Fig. 13 represents this arrangement applied to the above explainedaccumulator-switch.

The transmitting mechanism, such as a bevel gear-transmission by whichthe double sliding contacts 3, 3 are rotated simultaneously with thesliding motion of the contact pieces 7;, 7c, is not shown, but anysuitable means may be used for imparting simultaneously rotary motion tothe double switch s s and a traversing motion to the sliding contact [Q70,, in such a manner that one-half of a rotation of the double switch ss corresponds to the shifting of the sliding contact k 79 from onecontact-piece to the next one. The further development of thearrangement shown in Fig. 5 would be analogous to that of Fig. 4., ashere also instead of the switch a in Fig. 5 there would have to bearranged a switching apparatus actuating synchronously with the motionof the sliding contact 70. As the necessary arrangement does not differsubstantially from that which is shown in Figs. 6 to 12, I have notthought it necessary to give any further explanation.

The foregoing switches can also be used for primary batteries of allkinds.

The third feature of my improvement is shown at the left-hand of Fig. lin connection with my improved switch. There are provided two smallguide ways s .9 which are connected to a voltmeter, and two smallsliding contacts 2), 19 which make contact with s, and s and which arefastened to but insulated from the screw nut T. These two slidingcontacts are arranged at such a distance from each other, that they makecontact with the terminals of one cell. The voltage of a cell, whilebeing charged, increases from 1.8 to 2.7 volts. By measuring thevoltage, the quantity of electrical energy stored in the cells can bedetermined. Vhen the voltage of a cell is increased to 2.7 volts, thecharge is completed and the cell is to be switched out. This isaccomplished by the attendant who observes the voltmeter, but it mayalso be accomplished automatically by means of a suitable signalingdevice, which is actuated by an electro magnet that makes contact whenthe highest voltage of the cell is ob tained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a distribution-switch for charging and discharging secondarybatteries or for working of primary batteries, the combination with twosliding contacts, of two separated guide ways composed of contact-piecesalternating with isolated pieces of metal, each sliding contact havingits own guideway, and a resistance with which the isolated pieces areconnected substantially as set forth.

2. In adistribution-switch for charging and discharging secondarybatteries or for working of primary batteries,the combination,with twosliding contacts, of two separated guide ways composed of contact-piecesalternating with isolated pieces, two guide contact bars, joined by aresistance, each sliding contact having its own way, substantially asset forth.

3. In a distribution-switch for charging and discharging secondarybatteries or for workin g of primary batteries, the combination, withtwo sliding contacts, of two separated guide ways composed of contactpieces alternating with isolated pieces, two guide contact bars, joinedby a variable resistance, each sliding contact having its own guide way,substantially as set forth.

it. In a distribution switch for charging and discharging secondarybatteries, or for working primary batteries, the combination with twoisolated sliding-contacts and asingle actuating-device by which they arecarried, of two separated guide-ways composed of contact-piecesalternating with isolated pieces of metal, each sliding-contact havingits own way, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a switch for secondary batteries, formed offixed contactpieces and sliding contacts, and a resistance interposedbetween the sliding contacts, of a switching-device that is operatedsimultaneously with the sliding-contacts, so as to permit the passing ofthe sliding'contacts from one fixed contact-piece to the other withoutgeneration of sparks at the contact-pieces of the switch, substantiallyas set forth.

6. The combination, with the fixed-contactpieces of a secondarybattery-switch, of sliding contact-pieces, guide-ways for the latter, aswitching-device interposed between said guide-ways and the translatingdevice, said switching device being rotated simultane- IOO ously withthe motion of the sliding-contacts, and the resistance interposedbetween: the contact-pieces and the switching-device, so that nosparking takes place'when the sliding-contacts leave the fixed contacts,but the I same-is transferred to the switching device, substantially asset forth.

7. In battery switches, the combination with main sliding-contacts andguide-ways for the IO battery, of auxiliary sliding-contacts andguide-ways connected to the said main contacts, and a voltometerconnected with the last-named guide-waysso' that the voltage of asinglecell is indicated, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in pres- ;ence of two subscribingwitnesses.

HERMANN MULLER.

Witnesses:

WM. J. BLACK,

OSCAR BooK.

